Preview
Maccabi returned to Bloomfield stadium ahead of the Conference League 3rd qualifying round first leg against Aris Thessaloniki, the sixth Greek opponents and the 76th in total to face the Yellow and Blue in European competitions. But as the stadium in Jaffa gradually filled with more than 20,000 spectators, the talking point amongst the fans was of Maccabi’s number 7, Eran Zahavi, who was named in the squad for the first time and was set to make his second debut since returning to the club in the summer after six years abroad. The 35-year-old striker, who spent four years in China with Guangzhou R&F and two in Holland with PSV Eindhoven, recovered from the knee injury which troubled him and was back at Vladimir Ivic’s disposal. The Serbian coach, facing the club he played for during the 2007/08 season before switching to arch city rivals, PAOK, where he played until hanging-up his boots in 2012, insisted in the pre-match Press Conference that Zahavi was fully fit, will feature in the squad and will play.
Ivic, who named Zahavi amongst the 12 substitutes on the bench, made several changes from the side which was held to a 0-0 draw by Zira at Bloomfield. Nir Bitton who made a second half substitute appearance against the Azeri side for his Maccabi debut, was handed his first start. Sheran Yeini, on his 79th Maccabi appearance in European competitions, led the team out wearing the captain’s armband. The veteran captain, partnered Bitton at the heart of the defence with Ivic adding Enric Saborit as a third central defender. Andre Geraldes as the right wing-back and Ofir Davidzada on the opposite left-flank were supposed to have been Maccabi’s two wide players, but a late groin injury Davidzada picked in the warm-up led to him being replaced shortly before kick-off by Matan Hozez.
Dan Glazer who just like Bitton also appeared as a second half substitute against Zira, returned to the heart of midfield allowing Joris van Overeem to push a little forward. The Dutch born midfielder who played in the anchor-man role while Glazer was recovering from injury, occupied the more attacking midfielder in Ivic’s engine room in place of Eyal Golasa who withdrew from the squad due to a virus. Gabi Kanichowsky and Brandley Kuwas, both instrumental in Maccabi’s 3-0 victory over Zira in Baku in the previous round, kept their places. As did Djordje Jovanovic who was assigned by Ivic to lead Maccabi’s line upfront, with Stipe Perica and Zahavi waiting for their chance on the bench. Alongside the two forwards were Goalkeeper Daniel Tenenbaum, Idan Nachmias, Dan Biton, Eylon Almog, Avi Rikan, Maor Kandil, Nadav Niddam and the two youngsters Roy Revivo and Oscar Gloukh.
First Half
As if the hot and humid weather conditions were not enough to create an electric atmosphere, the 21,204 Maccabi fans that filled 3/4 of the stadium added intensity. Aris were awarded the first corner three minutes from the start, but Maccabi’s counter attack almost caught the visitors’ defence off guard. Gabi Kanichowsky picked Matan Hozez on the edge of the Aris area but Hozez wasted the chance as he was hassled off the ball by a defender. In the 9th minute however, Sheran Yeini sent a perfectly weighed ball over Aris’ defence to release Kanichowsky into the area. But the diminutive midfielder who chested the ball down couldn’t beat Aris’ goalkeeper Julian Cuesta Diaz who charged off his line to squander the chance. Three minutes later Maccabi were handed another good chance as Enric Saborit sent a powerful left foot shot which Julian failed to hold onto. But Hozez, who pounced onto the rebound couldn’t get a shot on target before the danger was cleared.
Daniel Peretz was drawn into the action in the 19th minute as he was forced to dive and save Daniel Mancini’s powerful low drive. Djordje Jovanovic who earlier blasted a shot high into the stands, got closer to break the deadlock on 23 as he forced Julian to a reflex save following an Andre Geraldes cut-back.
In the 29th minute Bloomfield stadium was rocking. Kanichowsky led a counter attack from inside the centre circle, charged forward and slid the ball to Jovanovic who was left unmarked on the edge of the area. The 23-year-old Serbian striker kept his composure, slotted a right foot shot beyond the reach of Julian to break the deadlock and put Maccabi in-front. The dual between Mancini and Peretz continued in the 43rd minute as Maccabi’s custodian tipped another powerful drive of the Argentine winger over the crossbar.
On the stroke of halftime, Saborit was the first player to be booked by Dutch referee Dennis Higier following a foul on Mancini near the edge of the area. But Juan Iturbe wasted Aris’ chance to draw level as he blasted his free kick high into the stands.
Second Half
With no changes at halftime Maccabi began the second half on the front foot as a counter attack which began down the right flank saw Joris van Overeem release Kanichowsky into the area. Kanichowsky could have taken a shot but unselfishly teed-up Hozez only for Julian to spread himself and deny Hozez from scoring Maccabi’s second. In the 52nd Ivic sent Eran Zahavi to begin his warm-up a fact which was acknowledged by Maccabi’s fans who realised that the introduction of their idol could be minutes away.
Nir Bitton tried his luck with a long range effort which narrowly missed the target in the 58th minute. The tall central defender who made his first start for Maccabi and was solid at the back, bowed out to a standing ovation in the 62nd as Ivic made a double change. Idan Nachmias came-in for Bitton while Oscar Gloukh replaced Hozez who worked tirelessly down the left flank.
In the 66th minute Ivic called Stipe Perica and Zahavi to get changed and the feeling of excitement circulated all around the ground. Perica replaced Jovanovic and Zahavi was introduction for Kuwas a fact which raised the loudest cheer of the evening, at least until that moment. Zahavi almost made an immediate impact as he could have scored with his first touch, forcing another save from Julian on his goal-line following an Andre Gerlades cross.
Gloukh struck the side netting with a powerful shot from inside the area as Maccabi looked destined to score a second. Perica should have doubled Maccabi’s within a minute as he stripped Jakub Brabec of the ball and charged from the halfway line. But Perica’s final touch let him down allowing Julian to charge to the edge of the area and collect the ball.
In the 74th minute Peretz kept Maccabi’s lead in tact as he stretched himself to turn for a corner Camacho’s shot which deflected off a defender and dipped towards goal.
Gloukh and van Overeem combined well to tee-up Zahavi for a shot inside the area but ball narrowly missed the target.
In the 84th minute however pandemonium at Bloomfield as Zahavi doubled the score. Gloukh released Perica with a long ball out of defence before he fed the 35-year-old who kept his calm and slotted his shot beyond the reach of Julian and in off the post to make it 2-0. Peretz kept his goal locked as he was at full stretch once again to pull a top drawer save and deny Cheik Doukoure’s header which was making its way into the top corner. Van Overeem came off to a standing ovation as Ivic introduced Avi Rikan inside injury time.
Aris could have scored a consolation goal and cut the deficit late inside injury time but Bryan Dabo somehow managed to hook the ball over the bar with the goal at his mercy when it seemed easier to score. The full time whistle sealed Maccabi’s win but with the return leg scheduled for Thessaloniki next week, a place in the Conference League Play-offs is far from secured.
